A Marshmallow: Chapter 15

 

Chapter 15: I'll take care of her

In the blink of an eye, it was late spring, approaching early summer, and the second semester of the second year of high school was drawing to a close.

Gu An had become very busy, having to pick up painting, which had been neglected for many years, while also balancing her regular coursework.

Except for that brief video call on New Year's Eve, which lasted less than two minutes, Jiang Yan hadn't contacted her again.

All the information about him came from Gu Zhen's mouth.

Key information about classified missions was all encrypted, and she only knew that it was a major case spanning across a large part of China. The level of danger was beyond the imagination of ordinary people. A special task force had been formed in the department, consisting of top-notch criminal investigators recommended by provincial bureaus.

A few brief sentences, just words, but behind every word lay the dangers of life and death, as if they belonged to two different worlds.

Sometimes, Gu An couldn't sleep and would secretly dig up her deepest thoughts, examining why she liked him.

Even though they had only known each other for half a year, her longing was surpassing her affection.

It was because, even after witnessing the dark sides of humanity that most people would never touch in their lifetime, various extreme and crazy aspects of human nature, he remained untainted. Beneath his cold and unconventional exterior, he concealed a very pure and gentle soul.

A person like him, whether encountered at sixteen or twenty-six, was fatally attractive to her.

Gu An sat on the edge of her bed, hugging her knees, looking at the brilliant night sky outside the arched window.

She remembered what Jiang Yan had whispered to her on New Year's Eve.

And quietly in her heart, she added the words she wanted to say to him.

Jiang Yan, may you have peace year after year.

-

May, the wind in this northern city has become unusually gentle.

As usual, Gu An bounced her way home, and just as she arrived at the doorstep, she exclaimed, "Zaizai! I'm back!"

Innocent, adorable, and big-hearted, the German Shepherd dashed out, his tail wagging especially merrily.

"What's got you so excited?" Gu An couldn't help but smile, hanging her school uniform jacket on the hanger.

But as she looked around, her breath caught, and her heart skipped a beat. It was as if her entire bloodstream surged towards her cheeks.

Hanging on the hanger was a regular police uniform.

A six-digit badge number, with only the last digit different from Gu Zhen's.

Every step she took towards the living room felt like treading on cotton.

Her fingers clenched the fabric of her dress, and her knuckles turned white.

When he left, he was in a sharp, pristine police uniform with a silver shoulder patch that demanded respect.

But now, he sat in the living room wearing a light blue cotton shirt and black trousers. The cool moonlight outlined his slim and tall figure with extreme aloofness.

Gu An was utterly dumbfounded, her mind blank, rendered speechless.

"School's over."

"Uh... yeah... school's over..."

Gu An's nose suddenly felt a bit sore.

Just then, the person sitting on the couch stood up, and the shadow above his head, along with his scent, descended upon her. It was a refreshing blend of mint and lime.

Jiang Yan took a step closer, the distance suddenly closing in. In front of her was his light-colored shirt, and just a little further, her nose could brush against his chest, getting closer to his embrace.

After five months, she finally saw him again. He seemed a bit slimmer, had a new haircut, showcasing a sharp, youthful face that blended seamlessly with his handsome, young man's aura.

His hand gently rubbed her head, and he whispered, "Seems like you've grown taller."

Slowly coming to her senses from her daze, Gu An scratched her head and started babbling, "Yeah, I grew 0.7 centimeters taller. My old clothes are getting a bit small. I really am still growing, I drink milk in the morning and at night..."

She blurted out everything in one breath and nearly choked. She looked up and almost collided with Jiang Yan's smiling, clear eyes.

It was only then that she realized how blank her mind had been earlier, and how she'd said a bunch of random, silly things.

Jiang Yan's long, slender fingers gently moved from the top of her head to his shoulder, and he rarely smiled. "It looks like it."

She recalled last year when Jiang Yan had taken her to play basketball and had looked at her very gently, saying, "Draw a line and see how tall Miss Gu An will be next year."

And now, it was that "next year" he had mentioned.

The tip of her nose was filled with his scent. In front of her was his light blue shirt, unlike the stiff and cold police uniform, made of some incredibly soft material that seemed to neutralize the cool aura around him.

The buttons at the cuffs of his shirt were left unfastened, revealing some dark scars, extending from his fair wristbone up to where the sleeves completely covered.

Is he injured?

How severe is it?

Besides the scars she saw, are there any others?

Many or just a few...

Her mind was consumed by the thought of her beloved person being hurt. With boldness, she took hold of his wrist and lifted his long-sleeved shirt.

His arms were long and slender, and the scars meandered everywhere her gaze fell – some big, some small, and some turned into lasting scars. The most prominent one extended from his wrist to his elbow, and because of his fair skin, it appeared particularly fierce.

The flood of sourness she had been holding back burst forth in an instant.

Jiang Yan lowered his eyes, and the young girl's delicate fingertips fell onto his arm.

She was dressed in a summer school uniform with a white short-sleeved shirt, blue collar, and blue pants, looking obedient and well-behaved.

Her hair seemed to have grown longer, and her baby fat appeared to have diminished somewhat. However, her eyes remained round and large, inevitably retaining some innocence and childlike qualities.

But it seemed that she had grown up when he wasn't looking, in a time and place he couldn't see.

Gu An glanced over all the wounds, realizing that she had been holding his hand all along. In her palm, his long, clear, distinctly jointed fingers felt cooler than her own.

He let her hold his hand without resistance, lowering his head to look at her.

She wasn't sure what he was thinking, but he didn't pull away.

Gu An released his hand as if an electric shock had passed through her, and her fair earlobes turned red instantly. Heat spread through her limbs and body, making her feel like a mischievous and daring teenage rascal.

She turned and hurried to the small attic to find the small first aid kit and quickly returned.

Jiang Yan wasn't aware when she had acquired it. It was pink, resembling a candy box.

Inside were various stomach medicines, cold remedies, and anti-inflammatory drugs, complete with cartoon-adorned band-aids that seemed to wink and flirt wherever his gaze landed.

She placed the small first-aid kit on the coffee table and gently pushed him to sit on the couch.

"Why don't you take care of yourself at all? Look at all these wounds, there are so many..."

She arranged various ointments and medicines on the table, but Jiang Yan suddenly remembered the childhood game when Jiang Ning played doctor. There was a subtle quirk at the corner of his mouth.

"Next time you get hurt, I won't take care of you..." She pouted, deliberately speaking with a touch of sternness, like a little stern rice ball. When she didn't hear him respond, she tilted her small face, staring at him with moist, watery eyes. "Don't believe me? Give it a try."

Jiang Yan suppressed a smile, feeling a mixture of tenderness and warmth.

He sat on the couch, and she crouched by his side, carefully applying the medication. Her movements were delicate, and she kept a close watch on his expression. Already on the shorter side, this made her seem even smaller, and it always made him feel a sense of pity.

He furrowed his brows slightly, and she immediately resembled a child who had done something wrong, making her movements even gentler. "Is it okay?"

Her soft, gentle voice sounded as if she were soothing a kindergarten child.

If the members of the Criminal Investigation Team were present, they would be astonished to see Jiang Yan, who was rumored to be cold and emotionless, a walking refrigeration unit, now seemingly possessed by a professional porcelain artist. He played it like an expert.

"Something's wrong." Jiang Yan bit his lip, and the dimple at the corner of his mouth appeared.

He half-lowered his eyelashes, batting them with an innocent charm. As if afraid the little girl wouldn't believe him, he added in a low voice, "It hurts."

Gu An lowered her head, her eyelashes curving innocently, and her little nose slowly turned red.

This person had been temporarily reassigned by his department to participate in a major case, and who knows how many provinces and cities he had traveled across. He had been working on New Year's Eve and even managed to make a video call to her...

When he left, he looked handsome and indifferent, without a scratch. However, five months later, he appeared in front of her with a body covered in wounds.

She heard that this young police officer had impeccable marksmanship, almost inhuman, and could outperform even professional snipers.

She heard that the criminals were ruthless outlaws who regarded human life as nothing.

She heard that the bullets hit dangerously close to the car, nearly penetrating the windshield. If the angle had been slightly different... she might never see him again.

Unable to wait any longer for Gu An to speak to her, Jiang Yan softly called her, "Gu An."

The young girl responded with a soft "Hmm," her voice sweet and nasally.

He reached out and lifted her face. Normally, this little friend would burst into tears if Gu Zhen scolded her just a little, but now she was desperately holding back tears. Her eyes were red, and her lashes were wet with thick moisture.

"It doesn't hurt. I'm just teasing you," he wiped away her tears with the hand that wasn't injured, his tone both indulgent and helpless. "Little crybaby, you're all grown up, and you're still crying."

That night, Gu An couldn't fall asleep no matter how hard she tried.

When she finally dozed off in the early morning, she began to dream.

In her dream, Jiang Yan was shot, and amidst the bloodstains on his police badge, there was also the protective talisman she had prayed for at the mountain temple back then.

Gu An woke up crying, short of breath. Finally, she turned and got out of bed, not bothering to put on her slippers. She crossed the dark hallway without turning on the lights, and it seemed like she even kicked something, causing a piercing pain in her toenail.

The living room was lit, and Jiang Yan sat on the balcony.

His figure was slender and pale, but now his shoulders drooped, showing an unusual sense of dejection.

He recalled his oath when he joined the force, with Gu Zhen standing beside him, on his right: "I volunteer to become a People's Police Officer of the People's Republic of China."

He remembered the instructor who guided him when he first joined the police. Before retiring, the instructor had looked at him with a smile and said, "Young man, your future is bright." Then he died in front of Jiang Yan.

He remembered his closest drug detection dog, the only time it didn't obey his command was when it pounced on him with a gun aimed at him, and the bleeding wound wouldn't stop.

The brothers he fought alongside became permanently silenced badge numbers.

Most people might experience a few farewells and partings in their lifetime, but for him, it was a mandatory course.

Hearing footsteps, he turned around.

Gu An had messy hair, red eyes, and a tear-stained face.

Now she was pouting, softly hiccuping, and her big eyes were misty, making her look both pitiful and aggrieved.

Jiang Yan was at a loss and gently held her wrist. "Did you have a nightmare?"

Gu An sobbed and, upon seeing him, her tears gushed even more.

Jiang Yan reached over and turned on the light, then crouched down to look at her. "What's wrong, hmm?"

His voice, cold and calm, was now slightly lower and even carried a hint of graininess. He dimmed the light to the lowest setting so as not to hurt her eyes.

The moonlight was bright, the room dimly lit, and as he bent down, he could see the tears on her eyelashes. Her frail shoulders quivered as she hiccuped and wiped her tears haphazardly. She resembled a bullied child, full of grievance.

Gu An continued to cry, unable to stop herself.

The dream had been too realistic; not everything was her imagination. She knew that he and his brother had truly experienced such hardships in life.

What she had endured for five months erupted in the middle of the night in a burst of fear.

Someone gently took her into their arms.

He arched his upper body slightly, gently embracing her with tenderness and courtesy. His warmth and the faint scent of mint felt like a sedative.

"So, what did you dream about? Can you tell me?" He slightly leaned down to meet her gaze, and his eyes, dark and beautiful, were pure black and white. They had an inner corner that sloped downward, and his double eyelids extended from the corner of his eyes to the end, with beautiful eyelashes that made any girl envious.

Perhaps, at this moment, even the moonlight couldn't outshine the gentleness in his eyes.

His slightly cool fingertip touched her eyelid, and his voice was soft. "You've been crying."

Gu An spoke softly, trying to suppress her tears. "I dreamt... I dreamt that something happened to you."

Jiang Yan froze slightly.

In a place within him that had never been touched, something subtly loosened, collapsed, and softened into a tender embrace.

His tone remained calm, devoid of any emotions. "If dying serves its purpose, it's not a regret; no one can live forever."

Gu An lifted her head, and her previously wrinkled little face instantly tensed. She gazed at him with a serious expression, but as soon as she spoke, she hiccuped cutely. "How... how can you just casually mention the word 'death'? You quickly, join me in saying 'spit, spit, spit!'"

Jiang Yan, with a helpless expression, shook his head, smiling.

Gu An, getting impatient, reached out to pinch his face. "Hurry up, like this."

She was like a kindergarten teacher teaching a baby phonics, enunciating the syllables correctly and repeating them three times.

With a grip on his face, she acted like a petulant child, relentless until she achieved her goal.

Jiang Yan burst into laughter, his eyes arching beautifully, under the moonlight, his pupils were warm, dark, and even slightly dazzling.

And now, he watched her quietly, with no distractions.

Suddenly, Gu An remembered a song.

'I like you, those captivating eyes, and your laughter is even more charming...'

It wasn't until his fingers gently pinched her nose that he called her, "Little crybaby."

A long time later, during a top-secret mission where Jiang Yan narrowly escaped death, his mind began to blur, and old memories started to replay like an old movie.

In the bright moonlight, a young girl with a serious, doll-like face, her small hand pinching his face, her soft and gentle tone. She was usually not the type to have a temper, but she insisted on saying, "Like this, like this."

He closed his eyes and thought, he hadn't even kissed her yet; it would be a great loss if he died.

-

After Jiang Yan came back, he directly became the mascot of the Jing City Public Security Bureau, a highly protected giant panda for the entire department.

The giant panda was granted a three-day break by the leadership. His previous routine had been about solving cases, going out on assignments, and visiting crime scenes. Now, he was responsible for taking Gu An to school in the morning and picking her up in the evening. The rest of the time, he lazed around, living off the family's wealth, becoming a spoiled young master.

The hardworking people, especially Gu Zhen, were jealous to the point of facial distortion and near madness. Every morning when they went out and during late-night assignments, they had to sing "The Young Hero Never Speaks of Worry" in front of the young master's door. They were often pelted with pillows, cups, and various unknown objects thrown from inside.

The happiest person was Gu An.

She had a handsome guy to keep her company every day.

On the way to school, her lips were always up in the sky.

After a 10-kilometer run at night, the giant panda Jiang Yan came home. He wore loose black t-shirts and sports pants, with one earbud hanging loosely. He looked young and fair, like a college student studying in the police academy.

Gu An peered out from a pile of books, her cute little head popping out, and sniffed forcefully. "Brother, you smell like cumin."

Jiang Yan's mouth twitched slightly as he said, "You must be mistaken."

Gu An blinked, looking at him with great seriousness. "Brother, you didn't go running and then sneak off to eat street food to support the street economy, did you?"

Jiang Yan chuckled lightly, "How could that be?"

The next evening, Gu An was doing her homework and got hungry. Taking advantage of Gu Zhen's absence, she took Zaizai out to find some food.

When summer arrives, the barbecue stalls are bustling, and the air is filled with the aroma of cumin.

Among them, one stall was particularly crowded, and most of the people around it were pretty girls.

Do the girls eat barbecue to lose weight?

Well, if that's the case, I'll have some barbecue too and become a pretty girl!

"That guy is really handsome, and he has long legs!"

"He's so fair, and his eyelashes are even prettier than a girl's..."

Handsome, is he more handsome than Jiang Yan?

Long legs, can he compete with Jiang Yan?

Eyelashes... I've never seen a guy with more beautiful eyelashes than Jiang Yan!

I don't believe it; there can't be anyone more amazing than Jiang Yan in this world!

Gu An approached the barbecue stall, amid the swirling smoke and the crowded people, and sure enough, there was a tall, fair, and handsome guy among them.

...It's none other than her own Jiang Yan!

-

Gu An and Jiang Yan each had a skewer, and both of them had surprisingly similar tastes when it came to junk food.

Both had grilled gluten, ham sausages, and pork belly.

"Brother, how much did you spend?"

"Ten yuan."

"Why do you have one more skewer of grilled gluten and one more skewer of ham sausage for the same price?"

Jiang Yan shrugged, "The boss gave them to me."

"Why would he give them to you?"

Gu An tilted her head, furrowing her brow in thought.

Why didn't he give them to her?!!

"He said I look handsome."

Still, with his expressionless handsome face and a tone that didn't seem to care, his lips curled up slightly. It was a very cute and coquettish tone, like that of a childish schoolboy who could be easily swayed with a piece of candy.

The schoolboy maintained his icy expression, looking cool. "He said if I come back tomorrow, he'll give me more."

Gu An turned her head and chuckled.

To think that a few skewers of barbecue could attract a large number of female shoppers, this guy is simply a gullible and naive pushover!

Once he started eating barbecue and didn't have cleanliness issues, he didn't refuse people from miles away. No wonder he's been so diligent in his night runs lately.

She was so charmed that her heart went pitter-patter.

Ah... How can he be so cute!!!

When Comrade Gu Zhen, a public servant, arrived home, he saw the following scene:

Jiang Yan and Gu An, one tall, one short, one holding a delicious and shiny barbecue skewer in each hand.

One with a stoic expression and one looking thoroughly satisfied, both with bulging mouths.

Gu An: "It's so delicious!"

Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow, "Indeed it is."

Gu Zhen looked at the two of them sitting on the sofa, enjoying their grilled skewers, and asked with anticipation, "Where's my portion?"

Jiang Yan gave him a casual glance and said, "What do you mean, 'your portion'?"

Gu Zhen stared, "You didn't forget to get my portion, did you?"

He glanced at Jiang Yan, who was savoring the street-side barbecue with a touch of elegance, as if it were from a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Then he looked at Gu An, who was engrossed in eating, her round face focused on the skewer in her hand. She didn't spare a moment to even look at him.

For some reason, he suddenly felt a sense of isolation. And he couldn't help but wonder if he was imagining it, but he kept feeling that Gu An was subtly moving her elbow outward, displacing him from his rightful position as her big brother. It seemed like she was starting to consider Jiang Yan as her real brother.

"I forgot to get yours!" Gu An squinted and smiled, finally freeing her mouth to speak. The skewers were so delicious, and she was too busy savoring them to notice her big brother's slight jealousy.

Gu Zhen grumbled, "You're still eating? Look at how plump you've become, your little face is like Peppa Pig's."

Astonished, Gu An's mouth froze, like a hamster whose pause button had been pressed, visibly frozen.

Big brother! He actually said she was getting fat! Doesn't he know that's the last thing girls want to hear - the word 'fat'?!

And he said she's as chubby as Peppa Pig?!

What a terrible comparison!

Gu An struggled to swallow the skewer in her mouth and said, "What did you just say? Did I hear that right?"

Jiang Yan restrained his laughter and gave her a sidelong glance.

The way this kid tries to deceive herself is just too cute.

Gu Zhen reached down from his lofty perch, pinching her cheek gently, and crouched down to look at her, "Let me tell you, seventeen-year-old baby fat isn't baby fat anymore; it's just being chubby, my sister."

"What's with your face, anyway," Gu Zhen tutted, "so much flesh."

"How can I be fat!" Gu An stood up, hands on her hips, trying to look fierce.

Gu Zhen looked down at her with a royal condescension, his face slim, his jawline sharp and defined, just like Jiang Yan, both tall and lean.

Gu An, refusing to accept defeat, reached up to touch her own jawline, only to find a plump cheek with no such defined line!

...This excited heart, trembling hands.

"You've put on weight, haven't you? You're still eating grilled skewers, and you won't let anyone talk!"

Gu An protested, "I'm not fat!"

Gu Zhen: "She's getting plumper! Plumper!"

"Getting any fatter, and she won't find a husband," Gu Zhen added.

Teasing kids is so much fun, and she gets all riled up.

She's like a grasshopper, poking and jumping around.

Gu An secretly surveyed Jiang Yan. His lips curled, and she couldn't tell what he was laughing about.

Won't find a husband...

How could Gu Zhen say in front of Jiang Yan that she won't find a husband? This is like cursing herself!

In the first place, her chances of winning Jiang Yan's heart were minuscule...

You can't indulge your own siblings; the more you pamper them, the more they become rascals!

Gu An swallowed a skewer in one bite, rolled up her sleeves, and went to chase after Gu Zhen.

Gu Zhen immediately shouted, "Jiang Yan, you handle her! She's so young and already attacking a police officer!"

Ingeniously, he hid behind Jiang Yan, and Gu An, without any brakes, crashed into Jiang Yan's arms.

Her nose brushed against the pure cotton t-shirt on his chest, making Gu An's face instantly flush.

Jiang Yan placed his hand on her shoulder and only let go once she stood firmly.

Gu Zhen remained arrogant as ever, sticking his annoyingly handsome head out from beside Jiang Yan and said, "Let those young boys who are chasing after you see that you keep chasing after your big brother. Who would dare to marry you? You won't find a husband in the future!"

Gu An was about to explode with anger.

Who would have thought that the high-mountain flower could be so cunning!

And at that moment, Jiang Yan lightly pursed his lips and said, "No."

"Jiang, Sir, how about making a bet? If she can get married by the time she's twenty, I'll take your shift for a year. But if she can't find a husband, you'll take care of her?"

Gu An, on the brink of losing her temper, was about to rush over and beat her dear brother when Jiang Yan reached out and pulled her to his side. The clean and refreshing scent of mint emanated from him, extinguishing all the flames of arrogance.

She leaned against him dazedly, her mind utterly unable to function.

His cool, lazy voice fell into her ears, "It's not like I can't afford it."

Jiang Yan's hand gently stroked her head, smoothing her hair. He half-closed his eyes, and the moonlight merged into the clear depths of his eyes, making his pupils deep and tender beneath his long eyelashes. "If I have to, I'll take care of her."

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